Pocket oxygen dispenser



Jan. 12, 1960 J J j- 2,920,623

POCKET OXYG EN DISPENSER Filed Aug. 26, 1957 INVENTOR. JEROME J H04 TATTORNEY U tFdfiFeteP Wis r 2,920,623 mien oXvoEN DISPENSER QJei'omeJames Holt, Los Angeles, Calif. I Application Augustl'26, 1957, SerialNo. 680,211

12 Claims. (Cl. 12-' -2b.s'

This invention relates toya portable oxygen dispenser and in particularto one which may be carried in the easily installed'in aworking positionandeasily disconnected therefrom, aeconomical of manufacture, relativelysimple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear inthecourse of the following description. However, the drawing merelyshows and the following description merely describes, one embodiment ofthe present invention, which is given by way of illustration or exampleonly.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in theseveral views.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the assembled dispenser, portions beingbroken away and parts shown in longitudinal section to reveal theinterior structure.

Fig. 2. is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of avalve assembly used in the present dispenser.

Figs. 3, 4, and 6 are cross-sectional views taken on the'respectivelines 3-3, 44 and 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. -6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of the device taken from themouthpiece orinhaling end.

Fig. 8 is a broken perspective view of a mouthpiece and capsulecartridge used in the dispenser.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a medicament capsule for use in mydevice.

In the form of my invention that is shown in the drawing, a container 11for compressed oxygen, usually called a bottle or cylinder, is providedwith a metering valve assembly V and a mouthpiece assembly M, includinga medicinal capsule retainer R, as more fully described below.

The container 11 is of conventionally hollow cylindrical cross-section,having one of its ends 12 closed in the form of a hemisphere, its otherend being reduced in diameter to form a'neck 13. The inside 14 of theneck is shown as internally threaded to engage the valve assemblyV andthe outsidesurface 15 of the neck is preferably smooth and forms ahearing or contact surface for an overlying indicator dial 16. Thelatter is held, preferably frictionally, on said outside surface 15. Theindicator dial 16 is provided with suitable indicia 17 2 (Fig. 7)denoting the degree of valve opening in terms of different rates ofdischargeof the oxygen (preferably in the accepted units of liters perminute). An overlying pointer or index 18 is attached to themouthpieceassembly M, the same being provided so that the ,user may setthe rate of discharge, as desired.

In order to accurately meter'the desired amount of oxygen to bedischarged from container 11, and for safety in avoiding dangerous,rates of discharge due to a too-wide opening of the valve mechanism V,said mechanism is provided witha ball check and with a micro-adjustmentmeans of a needle valve. The valve V is arranged to provide for minuteaxial movement of its" needle 20 with the bodily turning of themouthpiece assembly M, the needle being arranged to move longitudi-.nally in a bore 21 in a valve housing 22. A needle valve seat 23 isprovided in the housing or body 22 and t he same is disposed inoperative relation to'the needle 20 which, thereby, controls the opening24 between the valve bore 21 and the ball check bore 25'. The needle20'is provided with a longitudinal hole 26, terminating in a laterallydirected opening 27 adjacent but rearward of the needle valve point 28and of the valve seat 23. Thus, said opening 27 opens into bore 21. Theneedle 20 is moved axially by a metering screw 29, the outside threads30 of which are adapted to engage with the threaded wall of the bore 21in the valve housing or body 22; The

metering screw 29 is provided at its end nearer the needle 20 with athreaded hole 32 which is engaged with the exterior threads 33of theneedle 20. 'The'needle 20 is l held non-rotationally by means of acrosspin 34 which is inserted through a transverse hole35 in the needle 20.

Said pin engages thewalls of transverse holes 36 disposed on oppositesides of the bore 21," said holes being preferably made somewhat largerthan the pin 34 in order. to provide for'subsequent limited adjustment,as will. be later described. It will be "seen that the needle 20 ismoved axially through very small distances for each full rotation of themetering screw 29 because the threads 30 and 32 on the inside andoutside of said metering screw each have a different number ofjthreadspeninch,

both threads being of the same-hand. Thus, rotationjof the meteringscrew 29 in one direction will move said v screw in one longitudinaldirection relative to the valve housing 22, while at the same time itwill move "the needle 20 in the opposite axial direction. If boththreads 30 and 32 were ofthe same number of threads per inch, j

there would be no actual movement'of the needle with.

respect to the valve body. However, by making the number of threads perinch on the outside greater than. on the inside of the metering screw, adifferential linear movement is obtained. In practice, the outsidethread 30 of the metering screw may be provided with fifty-one] threadsper inch, while the inside thread 32 of the meter-'1 ing screw may bemade with fifty threads per inch.

Therefore, one revolution of the metering screw will ad vance said screwaxially 5 (.0196) inch in one direction" and will draw the needleaxially (.0200) inch. The net axial movement of the needle relative tothe housing 22 and the needle valve seat 23 is the diiference of .0004

inch in a direction that is opposite to the axial movement of themetering screw 29. handed, turning the metering screw counter-clockwise(when viewed fromthe mouthpiece) will open the valve,

and when both threads are right-handed, turning the mou'thpiececlockwisewill open the valve.

The outer end of the metering screw 29 is provided with a radial slot 37which is engaged with a corresponding" key-like projection 38 extendingfrom the inside 'endo f the capsule cartridge R. The valve housing 22 ispro vided on its outside surface with a taper-threaded portion 40 whichis adapted to engage the inside threads 14 If both threads are left-j ofthe neck portion 13 of the oxygen cylinder 11. The valve housing is alsoprovided at its end opposite to the threads with a threaded portion 41arranged to engage the inside thread 42 of the mouthpiece assembly M.The mouthpiece assembly M is of generally cylindrical shape, the samehaving a cylindrical counterbore 44 at its inner end into which the neckportion 13 of the cylinder 11 extends. The index pointer 18 is providedon said mouthpiece end so as to indicate the opening of the micro-valveabove described by pointing to the indicia 17 on the indicator dial 16which has previously been described. The opposite end of the mouthpieceassembly M is preferably tapered to a smaller diameter neck 45 which isadapted to be held between the lips of the user and constitutes themouthpiece of the present device.

in its, outer shape to non-rotationally'fit the cavity 47 and the sameis provided with a terminal portion which constitutes the terminal end46 of the mouthpiece. The cartridge retainer R is cut away laterally sothat a capsule C (Fig. 9) may be inserted in the longitudinal hole orseat 48. The capsule C is provided with openings 57 at its opposite endsso that the oxygen gas flowing toward the mouthpiece may pass throughthe capsule. The capsule is adapted to contain suitable medicinal orperfuming materials which are volatilized or dispersed and carried outof the mouthpiece with the oxygen gas. The capsule cartridge R isfrictionally engaged in the cavity of the neck 45 of the mouthpieceassembly and the key-like projection 38 on the inside end of thecartridge R engages the radial slot 37 in the end of the metering screw29. By this means the valve mechanism V is opened and closed upon theturning of the mouthpiece assembly M.

A check ball 50 is provided in the ball check bore 25, the ball beingbiased against a seat 51 provided with a bleeder notch 52 of a selectedcross-sectional opening so that only a safe rate of flow of oxygen canbe discharged through the notch-opening 52 past the ball. The ball is'pressed against the seat 51 by a spring 53 which is held by a retainerplug 54 engaged in the threads 55 of the ball check bore 25. The use ofa ball check valve with a small leakage notch is preferred over a simplerestricted orifice because it facilitates refilling of the oxygencontainer. V

The metering screw 29 is provided with a pair of diagonally oppositegrooves 56, the bottoms of which form a key for registration in abifurcated member of a filling machine (not shown) used in connectionwith recharging oxygen container 11 with compressed oxygen.

When assembling the metering screw 29 into the valve housing 22, theneedle 20 is first threaded into the metering screw a distance necessaryto bring the cross-pin hole 35 substantially in alignment with a hole 36in the side wall of the valve body 22. The holes 36 of the valve housing22 are somewhat larger than the cross-pin 34 and a trial setting of theneedle in the metering screw 29 need not be too accurate. The meteringscrew, with the needle thus inserted, is threaded into the valve bodyuntil the needle seats. The metering screw 29 is then backed awayslightly, just surficient to bring the cross-pin hole 35 in the needlein radial registration with the opposed holes 36 in the valve body. Thecross-pin 34 is then pressed through the needle so that its protrudingends are in registration with the cross-pin holes 36 in the valve body.The mouthpiece assembly M is then threaded onto the valve housing 22 andthe capsule cartridge R with its capsule C is inserted in the mouthpieceassembly. The mouthpiece assembly is backed away slightly to permitradial. registration of the key 38 at the end of the cartridge R and theslot. 37 in the end of the metering screw 29. The cartridge R is thenpressed into the hexagonal hole 47 of the mouthpiece assembly M,frictional engagement being provided so that accidental withdrawal isnot probable. With the valve adjusted to closed position, the indicatordial 16 is turned so that the zero mark thereon registers with thepointer 18. The valve is then opened to the desired indicated rate ofdischarge of oxygen, which can never exceed that passing through thenotch 52 in the check valve seat 51. The holes 58 in the body of themouthpiece assembly M permit inspiration of air, if desired. 7

The cartridge may contain a volatile or dispersible medicament orperfume material which is adapted to be administered by inhalation withthe oxygen gas stream through the mouthpiece.

It will be especially noted that the present device embodies a valveassembly that is operatively attached or connected to the mouthpiece andthat said combination of elements or components provides for a novel,facile and eflicient device for the purpose intended.

While the. foregoing has illustrated and described what I nowcontemplate to be the best mode of carrying out my invention, theconstruction is, of course, subject to modification without departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention. Therefore, I do not desire torestrict the invention to the particular form of constructionillustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:. V

1. A portable gas dispenser comprising a container adapted to holdcompressed gas, said container being provided with connecting means forattachment thereto of a valve assembly; a valve assembly including aneedle valve having difierential screwsfor fine adjustment and separablyattached to the connecting means of said container; a rigidmouthpieceassembly comprising a mouth piece having an inhaling orifice,said mouthpiece assem bly being attached to said valve assembly andinterconnected with the needle valve to control the'same, the mouthpiecebeing rotatively. carried'by the 'valve assembly.

2. A portable gas dispenser comprising a container adapted to holdcompressed gas, said container being provided with connecting means forattachment thereto of a vvalve assembly; a valve assemblyincluding aneedle valve having differential screws for fine adjustment and havingarestricting orifice means adapted to release gas at a predetermined rateof flow, said valve assembly being separably attached to said container;a rigid mouth piece assembly comprising a mouthpiece having an in halingorifice; .means rotatively connecting said mouth piece assembly to saidvalve assembly, whereby said needle valve is moved to open or closedposition by turning said mouthpiece assembly relative to said container.

3. The portable gas dispenser according to claim I in which saidmouthpiece assembly is provided with a cavity for holding a replaceablemedicament capsule.

4. The portable gas dispenser according to claim 2 in which saidmouthpiece assembly is provided with cavity for holding a replaceablemedicamentcapsule.

5. A portable oxygen dispenser comprising a container adapted to holdcompressed oxygen gas, said container being provided with connectingmeans for attachment thereto of a valve assemblyg'a valveassembly'including a micro-adjustable needle valve and having arestricting orifice means adapted to release oxygen gas at apredetermined rate, said valve assembly being attached to saidcontainer; a mouthpiece assembly rotatably attached to said valveassembly and rotatable relative to said container to control said needlevalve, and said mouthpiece assembly having a cavity in its outer end, acartridge in said cavity and having an inhalation piece attached atoneend thereof and adapted to receive a replaceable capsule containing adispersible medicament, said cartridge being removably held in saidcavity of said mouthpiece assembly.

6. The portable oxygen gas dispenser according to claim 5, in whichindexing means are provided between the container and the mouthpieceassembly to show the movement of said mouthpiece assembly relative tosaid container.

7. A portable oxygen dispenser comprising a container adapted to holdcompressed oxygen gas, said container being provided with a neck portionwith inside screwthread connecting means for attachment thereof of avalve assembly; a valve assembly threadedly attached to said neckportion, said valve assembly comprising a needle, a valve housing havinga seat and in which the needle is disposed in operative relation to saidvalve seat, and a differential screw means interconnecting said needleand housing for moving said needle relative to the housing; a mouthpieceassembly rotatably attached to said valve assembly, said mouthpieceassembly having a pointer indicator; an indicator dial on said containerin operative association with the pointer indicator, and said mouthpieceassembly having a cavity in the outer end thereof, a cartridge in saidcavity and having an inhalation piece attached at one end thereof andbeing adapted to receive a replaceable capsule containing adispersiblemedicament, said cartridge being frictionally held in said cavity insaid mouthpiece assembly.

8. In combination, a container for gas under pressure and having anoutlet, a valve assembly connected to said container outlet andincluding a needle valve and rigid means rotatively mounted thereon tocontrol said needle valve, and a mounthpiece separably connected to saidrotative means and having a gas-passing orifice, said mouthpiece androtative means being non-rotatively connected whereby manual rotation ofthe former imparts rotation to the latter to efiect control of theneedle valve.

9. In the combination according to claim 8, the assembly being providedwith a housing, and diflerential screw means between the rotative meansand the needle valve and the rotative means and the housing to efiectmicromatic linear movement of the needle valve upon rotative movement ofthe rotative means by the mouthpiece.

10. In the combination according to claim 8 in which the mouth piece isprovided with a cavity for medicament inward of the orifice and in thepath of gas flowing toward the orifice past the valve assembly.

11. In the combination according to claim 9 in which the mouthpiece isprovided with a capsule-holding cavity inward of the orifice and in thepath of gas flowing toward the orifice past the valve assembly.

12. In a portable gas dispenser, a connector for attachment to aportable gas container, 21 valve assembly in said connector comprising aneedle valve and a difier ential screw rotatably mounted coaxiallytherewith for fine adjustment of the needle valve, and a mouthpieceassembly rotatably mounted on said connector having means engaging saiddifferential screw for rotation thereof to adjust the valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,418,036 Lane Mar. 25, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 358,673 France Dec. 27,1905 257,817 Germany Mar. 20, 1913

